Starch ing-machine



(No Model.)

Patented Dec. 28

, 1 Wu. f x q I, i fl N PETERS. Hwh-Li hcgnpher, Walhinginm D. C.

UNITED ,STATES PATENT Orricn.

JOHN H. TOOF, on oonooan, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

STARCHING-MACHINE.

tEPBCIPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 355,232, dated December 28, 1886.

Application filed March 6, use. Serial No. 194,263. No model.)

- in the county of Merrimac and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Starching-Machines,

' of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists in details of construction described below, and pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 represents a vertical sectional elevation of my improved machine, taken on line a: 00, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a general plan of the same.

Similar reference -letters indicate corre sponding parts in both views.

A is a receptacle for starch, which may be formed of some suitable wood, and'of any convenient design. B B 6 represents an iron frame by which it is supported.

G is a horizontally-reciprocating plunger, formed of some suitable wood, and connected by means ofan upright, D, tothe piece E, preferably formed of iron or-metal, and adapted to rest upon ways F, secured for this purpose upon the top or cover a of the starch-box A at other to a projecting lug, h, of the cross-head placed at a convenient point thereon for beltconnection with a line of shafting.

In order that articles of different thicknesses may receive substantially the same pressure from the plunger, a spiral spring, J, is placed in the slotted or open portion of the bearingj of the pitman J, which in this case would be formed separate from said pitman J and surrounding the cylindrical endof the said pitman, upon which is secured a collar, j, one end of said spring bearing against the said collar and the other against a portion of the bearing j, thus permitting the positive motion of the crank K without interference with the equalizing or yielding action of the pitman and plunger.

If found more desirable, that end of the pitman J containing the spring J maybe attached to the cross head, instead of the crank, with equally as good results. The wringing device consists of two rubber-covered rolls, the lower, N, of which extends partly below the top of the partition in the starch-box, and is permanently mounted, by means of bearings 0, upon either the top of the starch-box A or an extension-shelf, A, as seen bestin Fig. 2. Underneath this roll is a cavity, 1?, and a passage, 19, extending the whole width of the starch-box and connecting with its interior, for a purpose to be hereinafter explained. 'The upper roll, N, is mounted in arms or levers R, pivotally connected at 5 either to the starchbox or aportion of the supporting-frame, and' may rise, when not required for use, to the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. To one end of each roller-shaft is secured a suitable spur-gear, S, and when the rolls are in position for use these will mesh together. On the opposite end of the upper roll-shaft is mounted flanged pulley, T, which connects by a belt, t, with the flanged pulley T on the driving-shaft L. The length of this belt is such that when the roll N is brought down and secured in its position over the roll N, it is set inmotion; but the moment it is elevated, as before stated, its rotation is stopped.

A narrow cover, U, is provided, which, for convenience, may be hinged, as shown, to the cover a of the box A. This may be readily fastened .down by bringing the buttons U into" the position seen in Fig. 2.

Having described the various parts comprising my improved machine, I will now explain its operation.

If, for instance, it is desired to starch a shirt, the operator will first remove the buttons 1' from the levers R and the buttons U from the cover U, then fold the shirt in such manner that the bosom and cud-bands may be inserted in the box through the opening left by the said cover, leaving as much as possible of the body of the shirt resting upon the shelf A. The cover U should then be fastened down to prevent the starch from working up and out of the box. The machine may then be set in motion.

The plunger C may make fifty strokes (more or less) per minute, and its surface, as well as that of the partition in the box A, is provided with a padding, V, of'felt or other suitable material, in order that any small hard substance-such as buttons-may not be broken while an article is undergoing treatment, and

also as a protection for the surfaces-whichcome in contact, said padding being easily removed for renewal when desired. Vhen the plunger shall have made asufiieient number of strokes to thoroughly impregnate the goods with starch, the machine should be stopped and the cover U may be again raised and the roll'N brought down and secured, as seen in full lines, Fig. 1, thus causing the belt t to become sufficiently taut to rotate the wringing-rolls, and while the shirt is being removed from the starch-box by said rolls all surplus starch, after being squeezed therefrom, is al lowed to pass into the cavity P, and thence, by means of the passage 1), to unite again with ',5 that in the box A. a

It may be stated that the buttons r are pivoted on the extension-shelf, and swing in a horizontal plane. As to the partition, it ex-, tends entirely across the starch-box, and should be located away from the end of the box, so as to form the drip-passage shown, so that the starch dropping from the clothes passing through the rolls may return to the box. The plunger should have its.throw arranged so as to cause it to properly act upon the garments A coming between it and the partition, and should extend entirely across the starch-box.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

l. The combination, with the partition of the starch-box, of the plunger 0, the upright D, the piece E and the ways 1?, the rod G, the cross-head H and its guide-rods I, the pitman J, the spring and bearing Jj, the crank K, and the driving-shaft L, as set forth.

2. The combination, with the starch box having a drip-passage, 1), extending across its entire Width and opening into the interior of the box, of the upper and lower rolls, N N,

arranged at the top of said passage, the pivoted weighted arms for lifting the upper roll, and the buttons for holding down or releasing said arms, the pulley on the end of the upper roll-shaft, the belt and the pulley on the drivingshaft, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN H. TOOF. Witnesses:

J. B. THURSTON, EDGAR H. VVoonMAN. 

